Five things that make Olbrich a draft 'Lach'

• Lachie Olbrich's pre-draft workouts have shown NBA scouts he can compete at the next level
• Olbrich won a NBL championship with the Illawarra Hawks in 2025
• He is a projected second round NBA draft pick in June

Ersin Demir's NBA Draft Newsletter went deep, very deep, into Illawarra Hawks big Lachlan Olbrich's scouting report head of the 2025 NBA Draft in late June.

This is a summary of Demir's Lachlan Olbrich scout. Dig even deeper.

Lachie Olbrich: Rising Through the Draft Ranks

Standing 206 cm tall (6'8.75" in socks) with a well-built 104 kg (230 lbs) frame, Olbrich averaged a modest nine points per game in NBL25 but NBA scouts have been captivated by his fundamental skills and basketball IQ.

His path to draft consideration hasn't been without challenges. While playing for the NBL25 champion Hawks, Olbrich has shown flashes of brilliance but also areas needing improvement — particularly his free throw shooting and tendency to accumulate fouls (2.4 per game in less than 20 minutes).

What distinguishes Olbrich is his combination of skill and decision-making ability — two qualities highly valued by NBA talent evaluators. His performances at the pre-draft events have only strengthened his case as a legitimate prospect with translatable skills for the next level.

Physical Profile and Athletic Ability

Olbrich has a strong, physical presence to the court. With broad shoulders and a filled-out frame, he possesses the physical tools to compete at higher levels. His quick feet and fluid hips — products of exceptional core strength — allow him to move with surprising agility for someone his size.

While he may not be an explosive vertical athlete, Olbrich compensates with impressive lateral quickness. This mobility gives him versatility on the defensive end, allowing him to execute various pick-and-roll coverages beyond just drop schemes. He can go over screens, hard-hedge, or even blitz ball handlers when needed.

One concern for NBA teams is how Olbrich handles physical contact, especially on defence. His toughness doesn't consistently translate to the defensive end, where absorbing contact remains a challenge. This will likely be a focus area for whichever team's strength and conditioning program he enters.

Offensive Toolkit

Pick-and-Roll Effectiveness

As a rim finisher, Olbrich has converted at a 55 percent clip over the past two seasons. While this might appear underwhelming at first glance, it's important to consider the NBL where the absence of defensive three-second violations allows centres to camp in the paint as full-time rim protectors.

Olbrich's screening ability stands out as perhaps his most NBA-ready offensive skill. His screen placement is excellent, and he creates solid walls for guards while timing his rolls to the basket effectively. Combined with his touch around the rim, this makes him a viable pick-and-roll threat.

Post Play and Playmaking

In post-up situations, Olbrich demonstrates advanced footwork and skill level. Rather than looking to score, he often uses post touches to create for others, showing a pass-first mentality that will appeal to NBA teams.

His hip flexibility and court vision allow him to make quick decisions with his back to the basket. When Olbrich catches in the post, he generates gravity as a potential scorer while actively looking to kick out to open shooters.

One limitation in his post game is composure against help defenders. When pressured, Olbrich sometimes makes rushed decisions, leading to missed opportunities or turnovers. With more experience, his decision-making in these situations should improve.

Facing Up and Shot Creation

When attacking closeouts, Olbrich shows toughness and a willingness to put the ball on the floor. While his handle isn't particularly tight, it's functional for his size and position. He effectively attacks defenders' chests without fouling.

The challenge for Olbrich is balancing his scoring and playmaking instincts. Despite his generally pass-first approach, he sometimes displays tunnel vision when in scoring mode, missing open teammates.

His ability to create off the dribble shows glimpses of creativity, using ball fakes and changes of direction. However, he occasionally drives without a clear plan against set defences, limiting his effectiveness. With proper development, Olbrich has the potential to become a double-digit scorer in the NBA within a role that maximises his skill set.

Defensive Capabilities

Pick-and-Roll Defence

Defensively, Olbrich is primarily comfortable in drop coverage. His inconsistent footwork and difficulty sliding laterally make him vulnerable against quick ball handlers, especially in switch situations. Physical guards can exploit this weakness, pushing him off his spot too easily.

That said, there are encouraging signs. Olbrich uses his length effectively to close angles and contest shots without fouling. At times, he shows the discipline to stay down on fakes and force offensive players into difficult decisions.

The concern for NBA teams will be how Olbrich handles elite scorers who target him in space. This represents, perhaps, the biggest question mark in his overall profile.

Closeouts and Perimeter Defence

When closing out to shooters, Olbrich at times struggles with positioning and control. He doesn't consistently stay 180 degrees from his assignment and can rush closeouts with poor footwork, making him susceptible to dribble penetration.

His 2.4 fouls in 17 minutes per game highlight his vulnerability, particularly against experienced players who know how to draw contact. Olbrich's defense tends to be reactive rather than anticipatory, putting him at a disadvantage.

Despite these concerns, his length provides a solid foundation for improvement. When properly positioned with his feet set, Olbrich can be effective against taller face-up scorers. His mobility and physical tools give teams reason to believe he can develop into a more reliable defender with coaching.

Transition and Team Defence

One bright spot in Olbrich's defensive game is his transition effort. He moves well in the open court, giving teams a legitimate counter against the fast break. In a league where more than half of teams score over 15 fast break points per game, this mobility is valuable.

Olbrich generally makes correct defensive reads, suggesting his struggles stem more from physical limitations than basketball intelligence. As he learns to better handle physicality and refines his footwork, his defensive impact should increase substantially.

NBA Draft Outlook

Based on his skill set and development trajectory, Olbrich projects as a second-round selection in the 2025 NBA Draft. His combination of size, skill, and basketball IQ offers enough upside to warrant a guaranteed contract rather than a two-way deal.

At 21 years old, Olbrich is young enough to have significant growth potential while experienced enough to contribute relatively soon.

What NBA Teams Will Love

Teams will be drawn to several aspects of Olbrich's game:

1. Screening ability: His excellent screen placement and timing create advantages for ball handlers.
2. Passing vision: Few big men possess Olbrich's court awareness and willingness to facilitate.
3. Basketball IQ: His understanding of positioning and spacing exceeds many prospects his age.
4. Transition mobility: For a centre, he runs the floor exceptionally well.
5. Skill level: His footwork and touch around the basket show years of technical development.

Development Areas

For Olbrich to maximise his NBA potential, he'll need to focus on:

1. Physical strength: Improving his ability to absorb contact on both ends of the floor.
2. Defensive footwork: Refining his technique when guarding in space.
3. Free throw shooting: Becoming more reliable from the charity stripe.
4. Finishing through contact: Developing more consistency when scoring against physical defenders.
5. Short-roll game: Adding a reliable floater to punish defences playing in-between.